Supreme Court to Review Driving Licence Law Amendments on July 30

The Supreme Court of India has postponed its hearing to July 30, 2024, on a significant legal question concerning the entitlement of light motor vehicle (LMV) license holders to drive transport vehicles with an unladen weight not exceeding 7,500 kg. This decision came after the Attorney General, R Venkataramani, presented a note detailing the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' proposals for amending the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. These amendments are set to be discussed in Parliament after the upcoming general elections.

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Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, leading a five-judge constitution bench, announced the adjournment. The bench includes justices Hrishikesh Roy, P S Narasimha, Pankaj Mithal, and Manoj Misra. The deferment allows the Union government time to propose changes to the Motor Vehicles Act before the newly elected Parliament. The court aims to assess the impact of these proposed amendments during the July hearing.

The Supreme Court's involvement stems from its request for the Union government's stance on whether LMV license holders are legally permitted to drive certain transport vehicles. This inquiry follows the court's 2017 verdict in Mukund Dewangan versus Oriental Insurance Company Limited, where it was determined that transport vehicles with a gross weight not exceeding 7,500 kg fall within the LMV category. This ruling has significant implications for numerous drivers nationwide.

During discussions, the constitution bench emphasized that this issue extends beyond legal technicalities, touching on road safety and social implications. The court highlighted its limitations in resolving matters of social policy through its bench.

The legal question initially arose from anomalies in the Motor Vehicle Act regarding driving license regimes for various vehicle categories. This led to the referral of the matter to a larger bench by a three-judge panel headed by then Justice U U Lalit on March 8, 2022. The lead petition in this case was filed by M/s Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co Ltd.

As of July 18 last year, the constitution bench began deliberating on as many as 76 petitions related to this legal question. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave represented one of the petitioners, highlighting discrepancies in the current legislation concerning driving license grants for different types of vehicles.

This case represents a pivotal moment in Indian law and policy, balancing road safety concerns with legal and social considerations. The outcome could potentially reshape driving license regulations and impact millions of drivers across India.